Treatment of atherosclerosis

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the use of compounds for producing a medicament for preventing and/or treating atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis risk diseases and atherosclerosis sequelae.

The invention relates to the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis risk diseases and atherosclerosis sequelae.

Atherosclerotic sequelae, such as the peripheral arterial occlusion disease, coronary heart disease as well as the apoplectic cerebral insultus, are still among the main causes of death in the United States, Europe, and in large parts of Asia. The development of the atherosclerosis is considered to be a chronic progressive inflammation of the arterial vessel wall which is characterized by a complex interaction of growth factors, cytokines and cell interactions. According to the “response-to-injury” hypothesis, the “injury” of the endothelium constitutes the initial event of the disease, leading to an endothelial dysfunction which triggers a cascade of cellular interactions culminating in the formation of the atherosclerotic lesions. As risk factors promoting such an “injury”, exogenous and endogenous influences are mentioned which correlate statistically significantly with atherosclerosis. Increased and modified LDL, Lp(a), arterial hypertension, Diabetes mellitus and hyperhomocysteinaemia are, for instance, counted among the most important ones of these endothelium-damaging factors. Since the endothelium does not constitute a rigid, but much rather an extremely dynamic barrier, a plurality of molecular changes occur in the course of the endothelial dysfunction in addition to an increased permeability for lipoproteins, which molecular changes have a decisive influence on the interaction of monocytes, T-lymphocytes and endothelial cells. By the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules of the type of the E, L and P selectins, integrins, ICMA-1, VCAM-1 and platelet-endothelial-cell adhesion molecule-1, adhesion of monocytes and T-lymphocytes at the lumen side occurs. The subsequent migration of the leukocytes over the endothelium is mediated by MCP-1, interleukin-8, PDGF, M-CSF and osteopontin. Via the so-called scavenger receptor, macrophages and monocytes resident in the intima are capable of taking up the penetrated LDL particles and to deposit them as vacuoles of cholesterol esters in the cytoplasma. The foam cells formed in this manner accumulate mainly in groups in the region of the vessel intima and form the “fatty streak” lesions occurring already in childhood. LDL are lipoproteins of low density and are formed by catabolic effects of lipolytic enzymes from VLDL particles rich in triglyceride. Besides their damaging properties on endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of the media, LDL moreover has a chemotactic effect on monocytes and is capable of increasing the expression of MCSF and MCP-1 of the endothelial cells via gene amplification. In contrast to LDL, HDL is capable of taking up cholesterol esters from loaded macrophages mediated by apolipoprotein E, under formation of so-called HDLc complexes. By the interaction of SR-B1 receptors, these cholesterol ester-loaded particles are capable of binding to hepatocytes or to cells of the adrenal cortex and delivering cholesterol for the production of bile acids and steroids, respectively. This mechanism is called reverse cholesterol transport and elucidates the protective function of HDL. Activated macrophages are capable of presenting antigens via HLA-DR and thereby activate CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes which, consequently, are stimulated to secrete cytokines, such as IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and moreover, contribute to increasing the inflammatory reaction. In the further course of the disease, smooth muscle cells of the media start to grow into the region of the intima which has been altered by inflammation. By this, the intermediary lesion forms at this stage. Starting from the intermediary lesion, the progressive and complicated lesion will develop over time, which is morphologically characterized by a necrotic core, cellular detritus and a fibrinous cap rich in collagen on the side of the lumen. If the cell number and the portion of the lipoids increase continuously, tears in the endothelium will occur, and surfaces with thrombotic properties will be exposed. Due to the adhesion and activation of thrombocytes at these tears, granules will be released which contain cytokines, growth factors and thrombin. Proteolytic enzymes of the macrophages are responsible for the thinning of the fibrinous cap which, at last, will lead to a rupture of the plaques with consecutive thrombosis and stenosing of the vessels and an acute ischemia of the terminal vessels.

Various risk factors are held responsible for the forming of atherosclerotic lesions. Hyperlipoproteinemia, arterial hypertension and abuse of nicotine are of particular significance in this respect. A disease which involves an excessive increase in the total and LDL cholesterol is the familial hypercholesterinemia (FH). It belongs to the most frequent monogenetically inherited metabolic diseases. The moderate heterozygous form occurs with a frequency of 1:500, the homozygous form with 1:1 million clearly more rarely. Causes of the familial hypercholesterinemia are mutations in the LDL receptor gene on the short arm of chromosome 19. These mutations may be deletions, insertions or point mutations. The characteristic finding of the lipoproteins in familial hypercholesterinemia is an increase in the total and LDL cholesterol at mostly normal triglyceride and VLDL concentrations. Often the HDL is lowered. Phenotypically, there is a type IIAa-hyperlipoproteinemia. In the heterozygous form, the total cholesterol is increased by the two to three-fold, in the homozygous form it is increased by the five to six-fold as compared to the normal level. Clinically the familial hypercholesterinemia manifests itself by an early coronary sclerosis. As a rule, in heterozygous men the first symptoms of a coronary heart disease (CHD) occur between their 30^(th) and the 40^(th) year of age, in women on an average 10 years later. 50% of the afflicted men die of the consequences of their coronary sclerosis before they are 50 years old. Besides the massively increased LDL levels, also lowered HDL concentrations are responsible for the rapid progress of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic changes may become manifest also on extracardiac vessels, such as the aorta, the carotid arteries and peripheral arteries. With the homozygous form of the disease, the coronary sclerosis develops already in early childhood. The first myocardial infarction often occurs before the 10^(th) year of age, and in most cases the afflicted persons die before they are 20 years old. The development of xanthomas is a function of the level of the serum cholesterol and the duration of the disease. Approximately 75% of the heterozygous individuals afflicted who are more than 20 years old exhibit tendinous xanthomas. The homozygous individuals have skin and tendon xanthomas in nearly 100%. Lipid deposits may also occur on the eye lid and in the cornea (xanthelasmas; Arcus lipoides). These are, however, not a specific sign of a hypercholesterinemia, since they are also found with normal cholesterol levels. Furthermore, with the FH, acute arthritides and tendosynovitides occur frequently. The individual lipoproteins differ with respect to size and density, since they contain differently large portions of lipids and proteins, so-called apoproteins. The density increases with increasing protein and decreasing lipid portion. Due to their different densities, they can be separated into different fractions by ultracentrifugation. This is the basis for the classification of the lipoproteins into their main groups: chylomicrones, very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)). Among the lipoproteins with a high atherogenic potential there are primarily the LDL, the Lp(a) and the VLDL. LDL has a density of approximately d=1.006-1.063 g/ml. The core is formed by esterified cholesterol molecules. This highly hydrophobic core is surrounded by an envelope of phospholipids, non-esterified cholesterol and one single Apo B100 molecule. Besides, Apoprotein E is found on the surface of the LDL particles. The function of the LDL consists in transporting cholesterol to peripheral tissues where—mediated by the apoprotein B-100—it is taken up into the cells via the LDL receptor. In comprehensive epidemiologic studies, a positive correlation between the level of the serum cholesterol and the occurrence of a coronary heart disease could be demonstrated. LDL cholesterol levels of higher than 160 mg/dl constitute a high cardiovascular risk. Besides the level of the LDL cholesterol, also the level of the vessel-protecting HDL cholesterol plays an important role when estimating the risk profile for cardiovascular diseases. Levels of below 35 mg/dl are associated with an increased risk. VLDL are lipoproteins with a low density (d=0.94−1.006 g/ml) and a high triglyceride portion. Substantially, VLDL contain apoprotein C, and small portions of apoproteins B-100 and E. Different from chylomicrons, VLDL do not consist of food lipids, but are synthesized in the liver from endogenously formed triglycerides and secreted into circulation. As with the chylomicrons, the triglycerides are hydrolyzed by the aproprotein C-II-activated lipoprotein-lipase, and the free fatty acids are supplied to the muscle and fat tissue. The remaining cholesterol-rich VLDL remnants are called intermediate density lipoproteins because of their higher density. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has a density of 1.05 to 1.12 g/ml and resembles LDL in its composition. Besides apoprotein B-100, its protein portion consists of the apoprotein(a) which is characteristic of Lp(a). To date, very little is known about the physiology and function of the Lp(a). Since the apoprotein(a) molecule has a high sequence homology to plasminogen, it is assumed that Lp(a) both promotes the formation of thrombi on atherosclerotic plaques and also has an atherogenic effect. Lp(a) is found together with apoprotein B in atherosclerotic lesions. Retrospective studies have shown a correlation between increased Lp(a) and a CHD. Likewise, the metaanalysis of numerous prospective studies has shown that Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of a CHD. Levels of between 15 and 35 mg/dl are considered to be normal. So far, Lp(a) can be influenced neither by diet nor by medicaments. Therefore, therapy measures are restricted to reducing further risk factors. In particular, a lowering of the LDL cholesterol seems to lower the cardiovascular risk of Lp(a). In the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, considerable pathophysiologic importance is, moreover, attributed to coagulation factors. Epidemiologic findings suggest a correlation between the fibrinogen concentration in plasma and the development of a coronary heart disease, and, primarily, a myocardial infarction. In this context, increased fibrinogen levels (>300 mg/dl) proved to be an independent indicator and risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Yet also high concentrations of the tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor tPA-I are associated with the occurrence of CHD. The relationship between hyper-triglyceridemia and coronary risk is a different one in each case, depending on the cause of the elevation of the blood lipids. Despite the discussion whether or not triglycerides are to be considered as an independent risk factor it is undisputed that they play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart diseases. Incidence of the disease is the highest in patients who exhibit high LDL cholesterol and a high triglyceride level.

The cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) is a stable plasma glycoprotein which is responsible for the transfer of neutral lipids and phospholipids between lipoproteins and which downregulates the plasma concentration of HDL. The inhibition of the CETP lipid transfer activity has already been suggested as a therapeutic approach for increasing the HDL plasma level. There are numerous reasons which suggest that the reduction of CETP activity in plasma should lead to an increase in the HDL levels. Thus, CETP lowers the HDL concentration by the transfer of cholesterol esters from HDL to LDL and VLDL. In animal experiments with rabbits and hamsters, the transient inhibition of CETP with anti-CETP monoclonal antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides or CETP inhibitors led to the increase in the HDL levels. Lasting CETP inhibition with antisense oligonucleotides increased the HDL levels and, thus, led to a reduction of the atherosclerotic lesions in the rabbit animal model for atherosclerosis.

In the literature several CETP inhibitors are described, some of which are in clinical trials (e.g. Anacetrapib (Krishna R., Lancet 370 (9603) (2007): 1907-14) and Torcetrapib (Sikorski, J. A., J.Med.Chem. 49 (1) (2006): 1-22)).

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,548 and in WO 93/011782, polypeptides and their analogues are described which are capable of inhibiting CETP that catalyses the transfer of cholesterol esters from HDL to VLDL and LDL, and, therefore, have anti-atherosclerotic activity if administered to a patient. According to these documents, such a CETP polypeptide inhibitor is derived from apolipoprotein C-I of various sources, wherein especially N-terminal fragments up to amino acid 36 have been identified as CETP inhibitors.

Also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,095 A, a CETP-binding peptide is disclosed which is capable of inhibiting the activity of CETP in an individual. The CETP-inhibitory protein comprises an N-terminal fragment of porcine apolipoprotein

In the U.S. 2006/0276400 and the WO 96/034888 peptides are disclosed, which are derived from CETP and comprise T-cell and/or B-cell epitopes. These peptides are able to induce in vivo the formation of CETP specific antibodies.

In U.S. 2004/0087481 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,022 B1, peptides are disclosed which, because of the induction of a CETP-specific immune response, can be used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, such as, e.g., atheroslerosis. These peptides comprise a T helper cell epitope which is not derived from CETP, and at least one B-cell epitope that comes from CETP and can be derived directly from the latter. The T helper cell epitope advantageously is derived from tetanus toxoid and is covalently bound to at least one B-cell epitope of CETP. By using a T helper cell epitope that is alien to the organism, it becomes possible to induce antibodies in the body of an individual, which antibodies are directed against that peptide portion that consists of at least one CETP-B-cell epitope.

In Mao D et al (Vaccine 24(2006): 4942-4950) the use of a plasmid comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding for a B cell epitope of CETP as vaccine is described.

In the WO 2006/029982 CETP mimotopes to be used for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of atherosclerosis is described.

Most recently, there have already been suggestions for a vaccine approach with regard to CETP. Thus, e.g., rabbits have been treated with a vaccine which contained that peptide of CETP responsible for the cholesterol-ester transfer as an antigen. The immunized rabbits had a reduced CETP activity and altered lipoprotein levels with increased HDL and reduced LDL values. Moreover, the treated test animals of the atherosclerosis model also showed reduced atherosclerotic lesions in comparison with control animals.

The results of a phase II-clinical study were published, which study had been carried out by the American biotechnology company Avant with the vaccine CETi-1 (BioCentury Extra For Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003). In this phase II-study, just as in the preceding phase I-study, a very good safety profile without any questionable side effects was proven, allowing the conclusion to be drawn that basically no side effects are to be expected from an anti-CETP vaccination approach. With regard to efficacy, however, the Avant vaccine was disappointing since it did not lead to increased HDL levels significantly better than those attained by a placebo treatment.

The problem with the CETi-1 vaccine is that it uses endogenous antigen. The human immune system is tolerant relative to endogenous structures, since with most of the endogenous molecules—other than with CETP—it is vital that no autoantibodies be formed. Thus, it was the object of the CETi-1 vaccine to break the endogenous tolerance which, apparently, it has not achieved to a sufficient extent.

Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide antigens for an anti-CETP vaccine which are selected such that they are considered as foreign by the immune system and therefore need not break a self-tolerance. These antigens may be used for preventing and/or treating atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis risk diseases and atherosclerosis sequelae.

Therefore the present invention relates to the use of a compound comprising the amino acid sequence

(Z₁)_(n)X₁X₂X₃X₄(Z₂)_(m), wherein

-   Z₁ is an amino acid residue other than C, -   X₁ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of D,     A, R, E, S, N, T and G, -   X₂ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of F,     A, W, R, S, L, Q, V and M, -   X₃ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of L,     A, S, W, E, R, I and H, -   X₄ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Q,     A, H, D, K, R, S and E, -   Z₂ is an amino acid residue other than C, -   n is an integer between 0 and 10, preferably between 0 and 9, m is     an integer between 0 and 3,     is not, or does not comprise, a 4- to 16-mer polypeptide fragment of     the cholesterol ester transport protein (CETP) or a CETP-epitope,     said compound having a binding capacity to an antibody which is     specific for the natural CETP glycoprotein,     or     comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting     of SYHATFL, TMAFPLN, HYHGAFL, EHHDIFL, TGLSVFL, WMPSLFY, SMPWWFF,     TMPLLFW, DTWPGLE, SMPPIFY, MPLWWWD, SMPNLFY, RMPPIFY, NPFEVFL,     TLPNWFW, SMPLTFY, SPHPHFL, NFMSIGL, SQFLASL, WSWPGLN, IAWPGLD,     SKFMDTL, SMPMVFY, YEWVGLM, KGFLDHL, HQSDDKMPWWFF, YVWQDPSFTTFF,     YVWQDPSFTTFF, LPQTHPLHLLED, GPVSIYADTDFL, DSNDTLTLAAFL,     NGSPALSHMLFL, TDYDPMWVFFGY, IFPLDSQWQTFW, NESMPDLFYQPS,     DWGDKYFSSFWN, VSAYNNV and WPLHLWQ     for producing a medicament for preventing and/or treating     atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis risk diseases and atherosclerosis     sequelae.

The present invention provides CETP mimotopes for these purposes. These mimotopes are able to induce antibodies which are able to inhibit CETP enzyme activity. The CETP mimotopes according to the present invention preferably are antigenic polypeptides which in their amino acid sequence vary from the amino acid sequence of CETP or of fragments of CETP. In this respect, the inventive mimotopes may comprise one or more non-natural amino acids (i.e. not from the 20 “classical” amino acids) or they may be completely assembled of such non-natural amino acids. Moreover, the inventive antigens which induce anti-CETP antibodies may be assembled of D- or L- amino acids or of combinations of DL-amino acids and, optionally, they may have been changed by further modifications, ring closures or derivatizations. Suitable anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens may be provided from commercially available peptide libraries. Preferably, these peptides are at least 4 amino acid residues in length, in particular at least 7 amino acids, and preferred lengths may be up to 16, preferably up to 14 or 20 amino acids (e.g. 5 to 16 amino acid residues). According to the invention, however, also longer peptides may very well be employed as anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens. Furthermore the mimotopes of the present invention may also be part of a polypeptide and consequently comprising at their N- and/or C-terminus at least one further amino acid residue.

The mimotopes of the present invention are capable to bind to antibodies which may be obtained by administration of C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS (16 C-terminal amino acids of CETP protein) coupled to KLH or other carriers to mammals. Once administered to a mammal the mimotopes are able to induce a corresponding immune response, so that antibodies directed against CETP are produced in said mammal.

The CETP-mimotopes (i.e. anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens) of the present invention can be identified and prepared by various methods, including phage libraries or peptide libraries. They can be produced and identified for instance by means of combinatorial chemistry or by means of high throughput screening techniques for the most varying structures (Display: A Laboratory Manual by Carlos F. Barbas (Editor), et al.; Willats W G Phage display: practicalities and prospects. Plant Mol. Biol. 2002; 50(6):837-54).

Furthermore, according to the invention also anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens based on nucleic acids (“aptamers”) may be employed, and these, too, may be found with the most varying (oligonucleotide) libraries (e.g. with 2-180 nucleic acid residues) (e.g. Burgstaller et al., Curr. Opin. Drug Discov. Dev. 5(5) (2002), 690-700; Famulok et al., Acc. Chem. Res. 33 (2000), 591-599; Mayer et al., PNAS 98 (2001), 4961-4965, etc.). In anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens based on nucleic acids, the nucleic acid backbone can be provided e.g. by the natural phosphor-diester compounds, or also by phosphorotioates or combinations or chemical variations (e.g. as PNA), wherein as bases, according to the invention primarily U, T, A, C, G, H and mC can be employed. The 2′-residues of the nucleotides which can be used according to the present invention preferably are H, OH, F, Cl, NH₂, O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-propyl or O-butyl, wherein the nucleic acids may also be differently modified, i.e. for instance with protective groups, as they are commonly employed in oligonucleotide synthesis. Thus, aptamer-based anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens are also preferred anti-CETP-antibody-inducing antigens within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention the term “mimotope” refers to a molecule which has a conformation that has a topology equivalent to the epitope of which it is a mimic. The mimotope binds to the same antigen-binding region of an antibody which binds immunospecifically to a desired antigen. The mimotope will elicit an immunological response in a host that is reactive to the antigen to which it is a mimic. The mimotope may also act as a competitor for the epitope of which it is a mimic in in vitro inhibition assays (e.g. ELISA inhibition assays) which involve the epitope and an antibody binding to said epitope. However, a mimotope of the present invention may not necessarily prevent or compete with the binding of the epitope of which it is a mimic in an in vitro inhibition assay although it is capable to induce a specific immune response when administered to a mammal.

As used herein, the term “epitope” refers to an immunogenic region of an antigen which is recognized by a particular antibody molecule. In general, an antigen will possess one or more epitopes, each capable of binding an antibody that recognizes the particular epitope.

The abbreviations for the amino acid residues disclosed in the present invention follow the IUPAC recommendations:

Amino Acid 3-Letter Code 1-Letter Code Alanine Ala A Arginine Arg R Asparagine Asn N Aspartic Asp D Cysteine Cys C Glutamic Glu E Glutamine Gln Q Glycine Gly G Histidine His H Isoleucine Ile I Leucine Leu L Lysine Lys K Methionine Met M Phenylalanine Phe F Proline Pro P Serine Ser S Threonine Thr T Tryptophan Trp W Tyrosine Tyr Y Valine Val V

The mimotopes of the present invention can be synthetically produced by chemical synthesis methods which are well known in the art, either as an isolated peptide or as a part of another peptide or polypeptide. Alternatively, the peptide mimotope can be produced in a microorganism which produces the peptide mimotope which is then isolated and if desired, further purified. The peptide mimotope can be produced in microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast or fungi, in eukaryote cells such as a mammalian or an insect cells, or in a recombinant virus vector such as adenovirus, poxvirus, herpesvirus, Simliki forest virus, baculovirus, bacteriophage, sindbis virus or sendai virus. Suitable bacteria for producing the peptide mimotope include E.coli, B.subtilis or any other bacterium that is capable of expressing peptides such as the peptide mimotope. Suitable yeast types for expressing the peptide mimotope include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida, Pichia pastoris or any other yeast capable of expressing peptides. Corresponding methods are well known in the art. Also methods for isolating and purifying recombinantly produced peptides are well known in the art and include e.g. as gel filtration, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography etc.

To facilitate isolation of the peptide mimotope, a fusion polypeptide may be made wherein the peptide mimotope is translationally fused (covalently linked) to a heterologous polypeptide which enables isolation by affinity chromatography. Typical heterologous polypeptides are His-Tag (e.g. His₆; 6 histidine residues), GST-Tag (Glutathione-S-transferase) etc.. The fusion polypeptide facilitates not only the purification of the mimotopes but can also prevent the mimotope polypeptide from being degraded during purification. If it is desired to remove the heterologous polypeptide after purification the fusion polypeptide may comprise a cleavage site at the junction between the peptide mimotope and the heterologous polypeptide. The cleavage site consists of an amino acid sequence that is cleaved with an enzyme specific for the amino acid sequence at the site (e.g. proteases).

The mimotopes of the present invention may also modified at or nearby their N- and/or C-termini so that at said positions a cysteine residue is bound thereto. In a preferred embodiment terminally positioned (located at the N- and C-termini of the peptide) cysteine residues are used to cyclize the peptides through a disulfide bond.

The mimotopes of the present invention may also be used in various assays and kits, in particular in immunological assays and kits. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that the mimotope may be part of another peptide or polypeptide, particularly an enzyme which is used as a reporter in immunological assays. Such reporter enzymes include e.g. alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase.

The term “atherosclerosis sequelae” or “sequelae of atherosclerosis” refers to the diseases which are a consequence of atherosclerose. These diseases include among others peripheral arterial occlusive disease, coronary heart disease and apoplectic cerebral insultus (see e.g. Steinberg D. J. Lipid Res. (2005) 46: 179-190; Steinberg D et al. J. Lipid Res (2006) 47: 1339-1351).

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention X₁ is D and X₄ is Q or H, preferably Q. Such a molecule preferably comprises at its N-terminus further amino acid residues having the sequence X_(a) X_(b) X_(c) X_(d) X_(e) X_(f), wherein X_(a) is P, Y, T or K, X_(b) is an amino acid residue other than C, X_(c) is H, X_(d) is Y, L, H, V, T, I or F, X_(e) is Y, I, P, L, Q, S, R, T, F or A and X_(f) is A, W, V, Q, L, S, I, R or T.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention n is 7, 8 or 9, Z₁ is an amino acid residue other than C or selected from the group consisting of F, G, F, A, P, W, Y, S, G, D, L, E, K, T, P, I and M, preferably from the group consisting of F, G, F, A, P, Y, T, S, G, K and D, and Z₂ is selected from the group consisting of S, L, A, W, L, N, T, I, Y and H.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention X₁ is selected from the group consisting of D, A, R, E and L, X₂ is selected from the group consisting of F, A, W, Q and R, X₃ is selected from the group consisting of L, A and S, and X₄ is selected from the group consisting of Q, A and H.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention X₁ is D, X₂ is selected from the group consisting of F, Q and W, X₃ is L or S and X₄ is Q or H.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the compound comprises the amino acid sequence

FX₈(F)_(o)PX₉HX₁₀X₁₁X₁₂DX₂X₃X₄X₅X₆X₇, wherein

-   X₈ is selected from the group consisting of G, A, F, Y and K, -   X₉ is selected from the group consisting of E, Y, A, Q, K and S, -   X₁₀ is selected from the group consisting of H, V, L, F and I, -   X₁₁ is selected from the group consisting of L, W, S, I, F and Y, -   X₁₂ is V, T, F or I, -   X₅ is S or Y, -   X₆ is L, A or I, -   X₇ is S, N or T, and -   o is 0 or 1.

The compound of the present invention comprises preferably the amino acid sequence X₁X₂X₃X₄X₅X₆X₇, wherein X₁ is selected from the group consisting of D, S, N, T and G, X₂ is F, X₃ is L, X₄ is selected from the group consisting of Q, D, K, R, S and E, X₅ is S or T, X₆ is L and X₇ is an amino acid residue other than C, preferably selected from the group consisting of S, T, A, M, F and W.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SSLELFL, SFLDTLT, NFLKTLS, DFLRTLT, AFLDTLV, TFLSSLA, GFLDSLM, SPHPHFL, SNFLKTL, TGFLATL, SDFLRAL, SANPRDFLETLF, RMFPESFLDTLW, TIYDSFLDSLAS, KPYLLKDFLEAL, AMGPYDALDLFL, TWNPIESFLESL, QYQTPLTFLEAL, RHISPATFLEAL, HTDSFLSTFYGD, ADSTFTSFLQTL, GPVSIYADTDFL, DSNDTLTLAAFL, TPTHYYADFSQL, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, YPYHVQVDVLQN, IPSHHLQDSLQL, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, APKHLYADMSQA, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, MPAHLSRDLRQS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPTHYYADFSQLLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, GTPTHYYADFSQLL, GTPTHYYADFSQSL, FGTPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPTHYYADFSQSLS, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPGHLIWDSLHYL, LPGHLIWDSLHYLS, LPGHLIWDSLHSL, LPGHLIWDSLHSLS, GLPGHLIWDSLHYL, GLPGHLIWDSLHSL, FGLPGHLIWDSLHSLS, FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, IPYHHLVDQLHLS, IPYHHLVDQLHSLS, FGIPYHHLVDQLHHLS, FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS, YPYHVQVDVLQN, YPYHVQVDVLQNLS, YPYHVQVDVLQSLS, FGYPYHVQVDVLQNLS, FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS, IPSHHLQDSLQL, IPSHHLQDSLQLLS, IPSHHLQDSLQSLS, GIPSHHLQDSLQLL, FGIPSHHLQDSLQLLS, FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, EPLHFRSDRIQALS, EPLHFRSDRIQSLS, GEPLHFRSDRIQAL, FGEPLHFRSDRIQALS, FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS, APKHLYADMSQA, APKHLYADMSQALS, APKHLYADMSQSLS, GAPKHLYADMSQAL, FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS, MPAHLSRDLRQS, MPAHLSRDLRQSL, MPAHLSRDLRQSLS, GMPAHLSRDLRQSL, FGFPAHLSRDLRQSLS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPFHFAQDSWQWLS, TPFHFAQDSWQSLS, GTPFHFAQDSWQWL, FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS, ACSFAYLYRC, ACFMGDKWVC, ACVLYPKAIC, ACYMGQQFVC, ACLTAYLHWC, ACTLFPVAYC, ACWLFPYAHC, ACKSINMWLC, ACQTINRWLC, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FPEHLLVDFLQSL, AGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FAFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGAPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFAEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEALLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHALVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLAVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLADFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVAFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDALQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFAQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLASLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQALS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSAS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLA, FAFPAHLLVDFLQALA, AAFPAHLLADFLQALA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, SPQHLTTDRAQALS, SPQHLTTDRAQSLS, GSPQHLTTDRAQAL, FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDRLQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWLQSLS, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, ATPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWSQSLS, FATPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLA, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFFAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIRWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIEWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLNSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLHSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, PGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, WGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FSFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FDFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQLLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQWLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQNLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQTLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQYLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSIS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLT, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLY, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFPAHVSIDRAQSLS, FGFPTHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPFHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHISIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHLTTDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSLDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWSQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDFSQSLS, FGFPSHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIEWLQSLS, AAFPAHLLADAAQALA, AAFPAHAAADFLQALA, AAFAAHLLADFLQAAA, AAAPAHLLVDAAQAAA, FAFPAHVFIDWLQSLS; FGFPAHVFIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA, GFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FPAHVFIDWLQSLS, PAHVFIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVFIDWLQALA, FGFPEHLFVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHVHIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVPIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLFIDWAQSLS, PGFPAHVFIDWLQLIT, PAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQ, FGFPAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, PSHLIIDWLQ, PAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPAHVTIDWLQSLN, DFGFPAHVLIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN and FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA.

Particularly preferred mimotopes to be used according to the present invention are SANPRDFLETLF, RMFPESFLDTLW, SFLDTLT, NFLKTLS, DFLRTLT, TFLSSLA, GFLDSLM, FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS, FGFPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS, FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS, FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS, FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS, FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS, FGFPAHLSRDLRQSLS and FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS.

Especially preferred mimotopes of the present invention are FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS and FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS.

Further preferred mimotopes are FGFPAHVWIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHFSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSFDWLQSLS, FGFPEHVFIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FPAHVFIDWLQSLS, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPQHLFTDWLQSLS and FGFPKHLLVDFLQSLS.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the compound is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preferably KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin), tetanus toxoid, albumin-binding protein, bovine serum albumin, a dendrimer (MAP; Biol. Chem. 358: 581), peptide linkers (or flanking regions) as well as the adjuvant substances described in Singh et al., Nat. Biotech. 17 (1999), 1075-1081 (in particular those in Table 1 of that document), and O'Hagan et al., Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery 2 (9) (2003), 727-735 (in particular the endogenous immuno-potentiating compounds and delivery systems described therein), or mixtures thereof. The conjugation chemistry (e.g. via heterobifunctional compounds such as GMBS and of course also others as described in “Bioconjugate Techniques”, Greg T. Hermanson) in this context can be selected from reactions known to the skilled man in the art. Moreover, the vaccine composition may be formulated with an adjuvant, preferably a low soluble aluminium composition, in particular aluminium hydroxide. Of course, also adjuvants like MF59 aluminium phosphate, calcium phosphate, cytokines (e.g., IL-2, IL-12, GM-CSF), saponins (e.g., QS21), MDP derivatives, CpG oligos, LPS, MPL, polyphosphazenes, emulsions (e.g., Freund's, SAF), liposomes, virosomes, iscoms, cochleates, PLG microparticles, poloxamer particles, virus-like particles, heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), cholera toxin (CT), mutant toxins (e.g., LTK63 and LTR72), microparticles and/or polymerized liposomes may be used.

The compound of the present invention is preferably bound to the carrier or adjuvant via a linker, which is selected from the group consisting of NHS-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) (e.g. NHS-PEO₄-maleimide).

A vaccine which comprises the present compound (mimotope) and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be administered by any suitable mode of application, e.g. i.d., i.v., i.p., i.m., intranasally, orally, subcutaneously, etc. and in any suitable delivery device (O'Hagan et al., Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery 2 (9), (2003), 727-735). The compound of the present invention is preferably formulated for intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular administration (see e.g. “Handbook of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Formulations”, Sarfaraz Niazi, CRC Press Inc, 2004).

Typically, the vaccine contains the compound according to the invention in an amount of from 0.1 ng to 10 mg, preferably 10 ng to 1 mg, in particular 100 ng to 100 μg, or, alternatively, e.g. 100 fmol to 10 μmol, preferably 10 pmol to 1 μmol, in particular 100 pmol to 100 nmol. Typically, the vaccine may also contain auxiliary substances, e.g. buffers, stabilizers etc.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a peptide consisting of at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SYHATFL, TMAFPLN, HYHGAFL, EHHDIFL, SSLELFL, TGLSVFL, WMPSLFY, SMPWWFF, TMPLLFW, DTWPGLE, SMPPIFY, MPLWWWD, SMPNLFY, RMPPIFY, NPFEVFL, TLPNWFW, SMPLTFY, SFLDTLT, NFLKTLS, DFLRTLT, AFLDTLV, TFLSSLA, GFLDSLM, SPHPHFL, NFMSIGL, SQFLASL, SNFLKTL, TGFLATL, WSWPGLN, IAWPGLD, SKFMDTL, SDFLRAL, SMPMVFY, YEWVGLM, KGFLDHL, SANPRDFLETLF, RMFPESFLDTLW, TIYDSFLDSLAS, HQSDDKMPWWFF, KPYLLKDFLEAL, AMGPYDALDLFL, TWNPIESFLESL, YVWQDPSFTTFF, QYQTPLTFLEAL, RHISPATFLEAL, HTDSFLSTFYGD, YVWQDPSFTTFF, ADSTFTSFLQTL, GPVSIYADTDFL, DSNDTLTLAAFL, NGSPALSHMLFL, TDYDPMWVFFGY, IFPLDSQWQTFW, NESMPDLFYQPS, DWGDKYFSSFWN, VSAYNNV, WPLHLWQ, TPTHYYADFSQL, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, YPYHVQVDVLQN, IPSHHLQDSLQL, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, APKHLYADMSQA, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, MPAHLSRDLRQS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPTHYYADFSQLLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, GTPTHYYADFSQLL, GTPTHYYADFSQSL, FGTPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGTPTHYYADFSQSLS, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPGHLIWDSLHYL, LPGHLIWDSLHYLS, LPGHLIWDSLHSL, LPGHLIWDSLHSLS, GLPGHLIWDSLHYL, GLPGHLIWDSLHSL, FGLPGHLIWDSLHSLS, FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, IPYHHLVDQLHLS, IPYHHLVDQLHSLS, FGIPYHHLVDQLHHLS, FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS, YPYHVQVDVLQN, YPYHVQVDVLQNLS, YPYHVQVDVLQSLS, FGYPYHVQVDVLQNLS, FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS, IPSHHLQDSLQL, IPSHHLQDSLQLLS, IPSHHLQDSLQSLS, GIPSHHLQDSLQLL, FGIPSHHLQDSLQLLS, FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, EPLHFRSDRIQALS, EPLHFRSDRIQSLS, GEPLHFRSDRIQAL, FGEPLHFRSDRIQALS, FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS, APKHLYADMSQA, APKHLYADMSQALS, APKHLYADMSQSLS, GAPKHLYADMSQAL, FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS, MPAHLSRDLRQS, MPAHLSRDLRQSL, MPAHLSRDLRQSLS, GMPAHLSRDLRQSL, FGFPAHLSRDLRQSLS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPFHFAQDSWQWLS, TPFHFAQDSWQSLS, GTPFHFAQDSWQWL, FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS, ACSFAYLYRC, ACFMGDKWVC, ACVLYPKAIC, ACYMGQQFVC, ACLTAYLHWC, ACTLFPVAYC, ACWLFPYAHC, ACKSINMWLC, ACQTINRWLC, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FPEHLLVDFLQSL, AGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FAFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGAPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFAEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEALLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHALVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLAVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLADFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVAFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDALQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFAQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLASLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQALS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSAS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLA, FAFPAHLLVDFLQALA, AAFPAHLLADFLQALA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, SPQHLTTDRAQALS, SPQHLTTDRAQSLS, GSPQHLTTDRAQAL, FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDRLQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWLQSLS, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, ATPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWSQSLS, FATPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLA, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFFAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIRWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIEWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLNSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLHSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, PGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, WGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FSFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FDFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQLLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQWLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQNLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQTLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQYLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSIS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLT, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLY, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFPAHVSIDRAQSLS, FGFPTHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPFHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHISIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHLTTDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSLDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPAHVWIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHFSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSFDWLQSLS, FGFPEHVFIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPQHLFTDWLQSLS, FGFPKHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWSQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDFSQSLS, FGFPSHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIEWLQSLS, AAFPAHLLADAAQALA, AAFPAHAAADFLQALA, AAFAAHLLADFLQAAA, AAAPAHLLVDAAQAAA, FAFPAHVFIDWLQSLS; FGFPAHVFIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA, GFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FPAHVFIDWLQSLS, PAHVFIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVFIDWLQALA, FGFPEHLFVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHVHIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVPIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLFIDWAQSLS, PGFPAHVFIDWLQLIT, PAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQ, FGFPAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, PSHLIIDWLQ, PAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPAHVTIDWLQSLN, DFGFPAHVLIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN and FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA.

The peptides of the present invention turned out to be mimotopes for CETP and, hence, the mimotopes were able to bind to antibodies binding to the CETP fragment C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS (16 C-terminal amino acids of CETP protein).

Yet, another aspect of the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising at least one peptide according to the present invention.

The peptides of the present invention may be formulated in a pharmaceutical formulation which may be administered to an individual. These formulations may be used, e.g., for preventing and/or treating atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis risk diseases and atherosclerosis sequelae.

The peptides in the formulation can be combined from the pool of peptides disclosed herein. Furthermore is is also possible to provide pharmaceutical formulations, which comprise one or more of the peptides of the present invention, and which can be administered separately or together to an individual in need thereof.

The peptides of the present invention can be mixed into one single pharmaceutical formulation or in a combination of two or three. The resulting formulation can be administered at the same or the different moments in time. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the peptide present in the formulation is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preferably KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin).

The present invention is further illustrated by the following figures and examples, however, without being restricted thereto.

FIG. 1 shows the result of a representative competition ELISA after screening phage display library Ph.D. 7 with monoclonal antibody “Paula”.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show the results of 2 typical competition ELISAs after screening phage display library Ph.D. 12 with monoclonal antibody “Paula”.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show the results of 2 representative competition ELISAs after screening phage display library Ph.D. 7 with mAb Frida.

FIG. 4 a shows the result of a representative competition ELISA after screening phage display library Ph.D. 12 with monoclonal antibody “Frida”.

FIG. 4 b shows binding of monoclonal antibody “Frida” to ELISA plates coated with mimotope-BSA

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show the results of a representative competition ELISA after screening phage display library Ph.D. 12 with monoclonal antibody “Frida”.

FIG. 6 shows the results of a competition ELISA of two mimotopes after screening phage display library Ph.D. 12 with monoclonal antibody “Frida”.

FIGS. 7 a to 7 d show the antibody titer (anti mouse IgG) of in vivo experiments, whereby the following mimotope-BSA conjugates were injected into mice:

Fr12/3/26/65 ext4 C-FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS p4286 Fr12/3/55 ext2 C-FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS p4294 Fr12/3/55 ext2 W instead of R p4324 C-FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 WL instead of RA p4325 C-FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4298 Fr12/3/40 ext4 C-FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS p4302 Fr12/2/6 ext6 C-FGFPTHYYADFSQSLS p4278 Fr12/2/11 ext7 C-FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS p4282 Fr12/3/1/19/88 ext4 C-FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS p4284 Fr12/3/68 ext5 C-FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS p4289 Fr12/3/83 ext5 C-FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS p4292 Fr12/3/63 ext4 C-FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS p4296 Fr12/3/47 ext4 C-FGFPAHLSRDLRQSL p4300 Fr12/3/35 ext4 C-FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS p4304

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show the results of two representative competition ELISA after screening phage display library Ph.D. 7C7 with monoclonal antibody “Frida”.

FIG. 9 shows an in vitro ELISA test for the detection of the binding between “Frida” and cyclic mimotopes.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b show the results of an inhibition ELISA assay with FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS and FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS.

FIG. 10 a (Coat 1 μM peptide. Detection αIgG1)

2.5 ng mAb Frida Frida 2 μg 20 μg pept N ° peptide peptide buffer only — 1.05 0.96 p4073 original epitope C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS 0.44 0.1 p1358 irrelevant peptide irrelevant peptide 1.08 0.91 p4361 FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI

VFI 0.82 0.16 p4362 FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI

VYI 0.75 0.15

FIG. 10 b (Coat 1 μM peptide. Detection αIgG1)

2.5 ng mAb Frida Frida 2 μg 20 μg pept N ° peptide peptide buffer only — 0.84 0.75 p4073 original epitope C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS 0.64 0.15 p1358 irrelevant peptide irrelevant peptide 0.88 0.77 p4325 FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 RA

WL 0.42 0.1

FIG. 11 shows the in vivo induction of antibodies directed to CETP by mimotopes of the invention that are administered to mice. Balb/c mice/30 μg Peptide, 2 injections in 2 week intervals. S3 =2 weeks after 3rd injection. Alum as adjuvant. Titers against original epitope (p4073) induced by injection of mimotopes. Well coating: 50 μl of 1 μM p4073-BSA or 1 μg/ml activated KLH. Detection: αIgG:

injected original irrelevant peptide- epitope- peptide- BSA BSA BSA group 1 KLH KLH 2.040 400 group 2 original epitope p4073-KLH 8.600  10 group 3 C-FGFPQHLTTDWLQSLS p4369-KLH 14.000 12.900  10 group 4 C-FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS p4324-KLH 12.570 7.600  10 group 5 C-FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS p4325-KLH 2.930 1.820  10 group 6 C-FGFPSHLIIDWSQSLS p4366-KLH 4.700 3.600  10 group 7 C-FATPSHLIIDWLQSLS p4345-KLH 8.380 1.270  10 group 8 C-FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA p4328-KLH 10.100 2.740 400 group 9 C-PGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4340-KLH 18.100 15.640  10 group 10 C-WGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4341-KLH 10.350 5.500  10 group 11 C-FSFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4342-KLH 4.620 1.610  10 group 12 C-FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4343-KLH 5.580 2.900  10 group 13 C-FDFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4344-KLH 12.200 3.580  10 group 14 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQLLS p4347-KLH 12.000 9.160  10 group 15 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQYLS p4351-KLH 2.950 2.400  10 group 16 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSIS p4352-KLH 19.680 12.070  10 group 17 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLT p4353-KLH 11.200 8.650  10 group 18 C-FGFPAHISIDWLQSLS p4358-KLH 16.500 12.940  10 group 19 C-FGFPAHIIIDWLQSLS p4359-KLH 8.540 5.340  10 group 20 C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS p4361-KLH 17.940 9.530  10

FIGS. 12 a and 12 b show the in vivo induction of CETP specific antibodies by the administration of the mimotopes of the invention. Titers to p4073 and its correlation to titers to CETP of selected groups (which show high titers against p4073): gr.4, gr.9, gr.10, gr.14, gr.16-20/gr.1 (KLH), gr.2 (original epitope) as controls. Coating: recombinant GST-CETP or purified rabbit CETP, respectively: FIG. 12 a

recombinant rabbit GST-CETP CETP group 1 KLH KLH/Alum 0.35 0.19 group 2 original epitope p4073-KLH/Alum 1.49 1.25 group 3 C-FGFPQHLTTDWLQSLS p4369-KLH/Alum 0.45 0.21 group 4 C-FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS p4324-KLH/Alum 0.58 0.28 group 9 C-PGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4340-KLH/Alum 0.49 0.21 group 10 C-WGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4341-KLH/Alum 0.39 0.18 group 14 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQLLS p4347-KLH/Alum 0.35 0.2 group 16 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSIS p4352-KLH/Alum 0.48 0.28 group 17 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLT p4353-KLH/Alum 0.57 0.39 group 18 C-FGFPAHISIDWIQSLS p4358-KLH/Alum 0.68 0.58 group 19 C-FGFPAHIIIDWLQSLS p4359-KLH/Alum 0.79 0.54 group 20 C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS p4361-KLH/Alum 1.64 1.51

FIG. 12 b

recombinant rabbit GST-CETP CETP group 1 KLH KLH/Alum 0.18 0.47 group 2 original epitope p4073-KLH/Alum 1.26 1.42 group 5 C-FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS p4325-KLH/Alum 0.59 0.85 group 6 C-FGFPSHLIIDWSQSLS p4366-KLH/Alum 0.4 0.65 group 7 C-FATPSHLIIDWLQSLS p4345-KLH/Alum 0.39 0.46 group 8 C-FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA p4328-KLH/Alum 0.45 0.43 group 11 C-FSFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4342-KLH/Alum 0.38 0.41 group 12 C-FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4343-KLH/Alum 0.61 1.05 group 13 C-FDFPAHVSIDWLQSLS p4344-KLH/Alum 0.35 0.43 group 15 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQYLS p4351-KLH/Alum 0.54 0.59

FIG. 13 shows the in vivo induction of antibodies directed to CETP by mimotopes of the invention that are administered to mice.

Sera of each group (5 Balb/c mice each) were combined, diluted 1:100 and tested on ELISA plates coated with recombinant GST-CETP or rabbit CETP, respectively. Detection of bound antibodies was with algG.

recombinant rabbit GST-CETP CETP group 1 KLH KLH/Alum 0.23 0.17 group 2 original epitope p4073-KLH/Alum 1.08 0.46 group 3 C-FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS p4335-KLH/Alum 0.26 0.14 group 4 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQWLS p4348-KLH/Alum 0.33 0.16 group 5 C-FGFPAHLTTDWLQSLS p4360-KLH/Alum 0.4 0.23 group 6 C-FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS p4362-KLH/Alum 0.86 0.94 group 7 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLY p4354-KLH/Alum 0.29 0.23 group 8 C-FGFPAHVSIRWLQSLS p4337-KLH/Alum 0.24 0.14

FIG. 14 shows a CETP activity assay, wherein 0.6 μl human serum (with endogenous CETP activity) is mixed with serum from wild-type mice (not containing CETP activity) vaccinated with KLH/Alum (negative control group), p4703-KLH/Alum (original CETP epitope), or p4361 (or p4362 or p 4325) mimotope, respectively. It could be demonstrated that the addition of 1.2 μl and 0.6 μl serum from p4361-KLH/Alum vaccinated mice completely inhibits CETP activity and the addition of 0.2 μl serum reduces significantly said activity in contrast to the addition of serum from mice vaccinated with KLH/Alum-control only or with the original epitope (p4073-KLH/Alum).

FIG. 15 shows that the addition of p4325-KLH/Alum to human serum inhibits significantly CETP activity.

FIG. 16 shows that the addition of p4361-KLH/Alum to human serum inhibits significantly CETP activity.

FIG. 17 shows that the addition of p4362-KLH/Alum to human serum inhibits significantly CETP activity.

FIG. 18 a shows an inhibition ELISA with mimotopes (Coat. 1 μM 4073 peptide, detection α IgG1).

Frida 2.5 ng mAB Frida pept N ° low high buffer only buffer only buffer only 1.084 1.079 4% DMSO 4% DMSO 4% DMSO 1.180 1.201 p4073 C-FGFPEHLLVD- p4073 0.537 0.094 FLQSLS, posi- tive control peptide p1208 positive con- p1208 0.712 0.093 trol peptide FGFPEHLLVD- FLQSLS-C p1358 negative con- p1358 1.158 1.050 trol peptide p4474 C-PAHVYIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2 1.452 0.179 VSIδVFI SLSδSLN p4475 C-FGFPAHFSID- Fr12/3/84 ext2 2.211 1.429 WLQSLS VSIδFSI p4476 C-FGFPAHVSFD- Fr12/3/84 ext2 2.000 1.417 WLQSLS VSIδVSF p4477 C-FGFPEHVFID- Fr12/3/84 ext2 0.808 0.116 WLQSLS VSIδVFI PAHδPEH p4478 C-FKPAHVFID- Fr12/3/84 ext1 2.231 1.206 WLQSLS VSIδVFI p4479 C-GFKPAHVFID- Fr12/3/84 ext1 2.165 1.591 WLQSLS VSIδVFI plus G on N-terminus p4480 C-DFGFPAHVFID- Fr12/3/84 ext2 0.521 0.103 WLQSLS VSIδVFI plus D on N-terminus;  =4361 plus D p4481 C-FG- Fr12/3/40 ext4 0.551 0.156 FPQHLFTDWLQSLS RAδWL LTT/LFT  =p4369 with ex- change TδF

FIG. 18 b shows an inhibition ELISA with mimotopes (Coat. 1 μM 4073 peptide, detection α IgG1).

p1208 positive con- p1208 0.264 0.079 trol peptide p1358 negative con- p1358 1.902 1.661 trol peptide p4629 C-PAHVYIDWLQSLS C-terminus of p4362; 0.313 0.118 p4362 minus 3 aa on N-terminus p4630 C-FGFPAHVYIDWLQ N-terminus of p4362 2.131 2.115 (minus 3 aa on C- terminus) p4631 C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQ N-terminus of p4361 2.111 2.147 (minus 3 aa on C- terminus) p4642 C-DFGFPSHLIID- Fr12/3/55 ext2 RA → 0.171 0.082 WLQSLS WL plus D; p4325 plus D on N-terminus p4818 C-DFGFPAHVFID- Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI → 0.332 0.091 WLQSLN VFI SLS → SLN plus D; =4361 N hinten plus D vorne p4819 C-PSHLIIDWLQ =4325 minus 3AA am N 2.226 2.158 und am C-Terminus p4820 C-PAHVFIDWLQ =4361 minus 3AA am N 2.310 2.374 und am C-Terminus p4989 C-DFGFPAHVTID- Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI → 0.932 0.274 WLQSLN VTI; =p4361 F re- placed by T, plus D on N-term and N in- stead of S on C- term p4990 C-DFGFPAHVLID- Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI → 0.263 0.073 WLQSLN VLI; =p4361 F re- placed by L, plus D on N-term and N in- stead of S on C- term p5067 FGFPAHVYID- p4362 C on C-ter- 0.563 0.217 WLQSLS-C minus p5068 FGFPAHVFID- p4474 C on C-ter- 0.757 0.271 WLQSLN-C minus

FIG. 18 c shows a inhibition ELISA with mimotopes screen PhD12 Frida and Ala-exchange for mimotope characterisation/mAb Frida (Coat 1 μM 4073. Detection αIgG1.)

Frida 2.5 ng mAb Frida pept N ° low high buffer only buffer only 0.964 0.964 4% DMSO 4% DMSO 0.973 0.923 positive control p4073 0.554 0.088 peptide p1208 p1208 0.942 0.101 negative control p1358 0.986 0.93 peptide p4432 C-FGFPSHIIID- Fr12/3/55 ext2exch2 0.635 0.096 WLQSLS L −> I p4433 C-FGFPSH- Fr12/3/55 ext2exch2 1.114 0.672 LIIEWLQSLS D −> E p4434 C-AAFPAHL- Ala-exchange for 1.74 1.461 LADAAQALA mimotope character- isation p4435 C-AAFPAHAAAD- Ala-exchange for 1.281 1.969 FLQALA mimotope character- isation p4436 C-AAFAAHLLAD- Ala-exchange for 1.632 1.691 FLQAAA mimotope character- isation p4437 C- Ala-exchange for 1.84 1.674 AAAPAHLLVDAAQAAA mimotope character- isation

FIG. 19 a shows a peptide ELISA, immunisation with C-DFGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS (p4628-KLH/Alum), titre to original epitope.

FIG. 19 b shows a peptide ELISA, immunisation with C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN (p4474-KLH/Alum), titre to original epitope.

FIG. 19 c shows a peptide ELISA, immunisation with C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN (p4474-KLH/Alum), titre to injected mimotope.

FIG. 19 d shows an anti-protein ELISA. Mice were injected 3 times with 30 μg of the indicated mimotopes coupled to KLH with Alum as adjuvant. Sera from each group (comprising 5 mice) were pooled, diluted 1:100 and tested on ELISA plates coated with purified rabbit CETP.

FIG. 19 e shows an anti-protein ELISA, wherein mice were injected 3 times with 30 μg of the indicated mimotopes coupled to KLH with Alum as adjuvant. Mouse sera (from single mice) were diluted 1:100 and tested on ELISA plates coated with purified rabbit CETP.

EXAMPLES

There exists a strong inverse relationship between the plasma concentration of cholesterol in high density lipoproteins (HDLs) and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Thus, the risk for CHD is higher when HDLs decrease. Although 33% of patients with CHD have low plasma levels of HDLs, there is currently no effective therapy for increasing the plasma concentration of HDLs. Diet and moderate exercise are ineffective, statins only achieve a low 5 to 7% increase in HDL, and niacin has side efects and compliance profiles limiting its use.

The inhibition of CETP activity has been suggested as therapeutic approach to increase plasma HDL levels. CETP is a plasma glycoprotein that facilitates transfer of neutral lipids and phospholipids between lipoproteins and regulates the concentration of plasma HDL. The inhibition of CETP activity is expected to increase plasma HDL concentrations for several reasons. CETP lowers HDL concentrations by moving cholesteryl esters from HDLs to VLDLs and LDLs. Transient inhibition of CETP in rabbits and hamsters by monoclonal antibodies, small molecules (Sikorski, J. A., J.Med.Chem. 49 (1) (2006): 1-22), or antisense oligonucleotides causes HDL increase. Sustained CETP inhibition with antisense nucleotides increased plasma HDL and reduced atherosclerotic lesions in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. CETP-transgenic mice and rats show decreased plasma HDL. Humans with reduced CETP activity have elevated plasma HDL.

Recently, a vaccine approach has been proposed. Rabbits were immunized with a human CETP-derived peptide containing a region of CETP critical for neutral lipid transfer function. Vaccinated rabbits had reduced CETP activity and an altered lipoprotein profile with lower LDL and higher HDL concentration. Furthermore, CETP-vaccinated rabbits were shown to have smaller atherosclerotic lesions than control animals.

The problem of the anti-CETP vaccine approach discussed above is that the vaccine formulation comprises a self peptide and therefore must break natural tolerance against self antigens. The invention describes a CETP mimotope that can be used for vaccination: The mimotope shall induce the production of antibodies against CETP. The CETP mimotope does not have a self sequence and therefore does not need to break tolerance. Thus, the induction of an anti-CETP antibody response is greatly facilitated. The mimotope is identified with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and (commercially available) peptide libraries. An anti-CETP monoclonal antibody is used that neutralizes CETP activity. This mAb detects a sequence within the C-terminal 26 amino acids of CETP necessary for neutral lipid transfer activity.

Example 1 Generation of monoclonal antibodies to be used for screening of phage display libraries

A.) 2 antibodies derived from “Fusion F”:

Balb/c mouse were immunized with original CETP epitope C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS (16 C-terminal amino acids of CETP protein) coupled to KLH and Alum as adjuvant.

2 hybridoma clones (both IgG1) were purified and used for screening: F5AF9G4 (“Paula”) and F6F11D1 (“Felix”).

These 2 monoclonal antibodies recognize the injected epitope as well as CETP protein in ELISA. They can also be used in Western Blot to detect CETP protein (recombinant protein expressed in bacteria as well as protein isolated from rabbit serum). Both antibodies do not inhibit CETP enzyme activity (tested with Roar CETP Activity Assay Kit, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,235; U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,683; U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,355).

B.) 2 antibodies derived from “Fusion I”: Balb/c mouse were immunized with original CETP epitope C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS (16 C-terminal amino acids of CETP protein) coupled to KLH and Alum as adjuvant.

2 hybridoma clones (both IgG1) were purified and used for screening: I2G6H5 (“Frida”) and I2G6H7 (“James”).

These 2 monoclonal antibodies recognize the injected epitope as well as CETP protein in ELISA. They can also be used in Western Blot to detect CETP protein (recombinant protein expressed in bacteria as well as protein isolated from rabbit serum). In contrast to the antibodies derived from “Fusion F” (see A.)) both antibodies “Frida” and “James” inhibit CETP enzyme activity (tested with Roar CETP Activity Assay Kit).

Example 2 Phage Display, in vitro inhibition ELISA and in vivo testing of mimotopes

Phage Display libraries used in this example were:

Ph.D. 7: New England BioLabs E8102L (linear 7mer library)

Ph.D. C7C: New England BioLabs E8121L (7mer library, cyclized peptides)

Ph.D. 12: New England BioLabs E8111L (linear 12mer library)

Phage Display was done according to manufacturer's protocol (www.neb.com).

After 2 or 3 subsequent rounds of panning, single phage clones were picked and phage supernatants were subjected to ELISA on plates coated with the antibody that was used for the panning procedure. Phage clones that were positive in this ELISA (strong signal for the target, but no signal for unspecific control) were sequenced. From DNA sequences, peptide sequences were deduced. These peptides were synthesized and characterised in inhibition ELISA.

1. In vitro inhibition assay (ELISA)

Different amounts of peptides (2 and 20 μg, as indicated in the respective figures) derived from Phage Display were incubated with the monoclonal antibody that was used for the screening procedure. Peptides diminishing subsequent binding of the antibody to the original CETP epitope (C-terminal 16 amino acids of CETP protein) coated on ELISA plates were considered as inhibiting. (Results see i.a. FIGS. 19 a to 19 c)

2. In vivo testing of mimotopes

Inhibiting as well as some non-inhibiting peptides were coupled to KLH and injected into mice (wildtype or CETP-transgenic mice; subcutaneously into the flank or intra-dermaly into the ears) or rabbits (subcutaneously into the flank) together with an appropriate adjuvant (aluminium hydroxide and Gerbu 100 for mice and aluminium hydroxide or CFA/IFA for rabbits).

Titers to injected peptides as well as to the original CETP epitope were determined. In addition, for selected sera also immune response to CETP protein was measured (Results see FIGS. 7 a to 7 d and FIGS. 19 a to 19 e).

3. Results

3.1. Screening with 2 antibodies derived from “Fusion F”: “Paula” and “Felix”

3.1.1. Phage Display Library Ph.D. 7

3.1.1.1. Screening with monoclonal antibody “Paula”

17 Sequences were identified in this screen:

P2_8 SYHATFL P2_9 TMAFPLN P2_11 HYHGAFL P2_12 EHHDIFL P2_15 SSLELFL P2_16 TGLSVFL P3_2 WMPSLFY P3_6, 14, 28 SMPWWFF P3_9 TMPLLFW P3_13 DTWPGLE P3_16 SMPPIFY P3_17 MPLWWWD P3_18 SMPNLFY P3_19 RMPPIFY P3_21 NPFEVFL P3_25 TLPNWFW P3_26 SMPLTFY

The result of a representative competition ELISA is shown in FIG. 1.

3.1.1.2. Screening with monoclonal antibody “Felix”

6 sequences were identified that inhibit binding of monoclonal antibody “Felix” in in vitro competition experiments:

F2-9 C SFLDTLT F3-6 C NFLKTLS F3-18 C DFLRTLT F3-23 C AFLDTLV F3-34 C TFLSSLA F3-38 C GFLDSLM

Additional 12 sequences were identified that do not inhibit binding of monoclonal antibody “Felix” in in vitro competition experiments:

F2-2 + 5 SPHPHFL F2-6 NFMSIGL F2-16/F3-30 SQFLASL F2-29 SNFLKTL F3-1- TGFLATL F3-11-_ WSWPGLN F3-17- IAWPGLD F3-32- SKFMDTL F3-41- SDFLRAL F3-44-_ SMPMVFY F3-49- YEWVGLM F3-64- KGFLDHL

All mimotopes inhibiting the binding of monoclonal antibody “Felix” in vitro were coupled to KLH and injected subcutaneously (into the flank; s.c.) or intradermally (i.d.) into wild-type mice (mice do not have CETP protein), CETP-tg mice, or rabbits, respectively, and induced immune response to the injected peptide with all adjuvants that were tested (Alum and CFA (Complete Freund's adjuvant); Gerbu).

For all in vitro inhibiting mimotopes listed above, antibodies reacting to the original CETP epitope could be detected in mice and in rabbits.

For 5 out of 6 mimotopes (see below and Table 1) antibodies reacting with purified human CETP and recombinantly expressed human CETP could be detected in ELISAs from rabbit sera:

F2-9 C SFLDTLT F3-6 C NFLKTLS F3-18 C DFLRTLT F3-34 C TFLSSLA F3-38 C GFLDSLM

Subcutaneous injections in the flank were performed in week 1, week 3 and week 7 with 30 pg peptide-KLH per mouse. Intradermal injections in the ear were performed in week 1, week 3 and week 6 with 10 μg peptide-KLH per mouse. Sera were taken 2 weeks after the 3rd injection. Vaccine formulation with Alum (always 1 mg per mouse): up to 250 μl, injected into one flank. The Alum formulation with 1 ml per mouse (500 μl into each flank) was in 1×PBS as buffer.

Vaccine formulation with Gerbu Adjuvant 100 (Gerbu Cat. Nr. #3100; always 50 μl adjuvant per mouse): 200 μl, 100 μl injected into each flank comprising 1×HEPES as buffer.

TABLE 1 Results of the titer determination P4073 (FG- injected FPEHLLVD- p Adjuvant KLH mimotope FLQSLS) irrelevant Alum s.c. (30 KLH 1:20.000 n.a. 1:400 no titer μg peptide) p4073-KLH C-FGFPEHLLVD- 1:70.000 n.a. 1:20.000 no titer FLQSLS p4223-KLH F2-9; C- 1:15.000 1:15.000 1:6.400 no titer SFLDTLT p4181-KLH F3-6 C- 1:8.000 1:6.400 1:800 no titer NFLKTLS p4184-KLH F3-18 C- 1:5.000 1:10.000 1:3.000 1:2.500 DFLRTLT p4187 F3-34 C- 1:3.200 1:9.000 1:4.000 no titer TFLSSLA p4188-KLH F3-38 C-GFLD- 1:10.000 1:9.000 1.5.000 no titer SLM p4227-KLH P12-19; C- 1:12.800 1:10.000 1:5.000 no titer SANPRDFLETLF p4228-KLH P12-21; C-RM- 1:10.000 1:4.000 1:1.000 1:400 FPESFLDTLW KLH/Gerbu s.c. KLH 1:70.000 n.a. 1:6.000 1:800 (30 μg pep- tide) p4073-KLH C-FGFPEHLLVD- 1:25.000 n.a. 1:15.000 1:200 FLQSLS p4223-KLH F2-9; C- 1:40.000 1:25.000 1:50.000 1:1.000 SFLDTLT p4181-KLH F3-6 C- 1:20.000 1.20.000 1:8.000 1:400 NFLKTLS p4184-KLH F3-18 C- 1:27.000 1.35.000 1:15.000 1:6.000 DFLRTLT p4187-KLH F3-34 C- 1.20.000 1.20.000 1:15.000 no titer TFLSSLA p4188-KLH F3-38 C-GFLD- 1:40.000 1:35.000 1:35.000 1:400 SLM p4227-KLH P12-19; C- 1.20.000 1:30.000 1.3.000 1:400 SANPRDFLETLF p4228-KLH P12-21; C-RM- 1:27.000 1:8.000 1:5.000 no titer FPESFLDTLW p4073-KLH C-FGFPEHLLVD- 1:10.000 1:10.000 no titer FLQSLS KLH/Alum i.d. KLH 1:12.800 n.a. no titer no titer (10 μg pep- tide) p4073-KLH C-FGFPEHLLVD- 1:10.000 n.a. 1:3.200 no titer FLQSLS p4223-KLH F2-9; C- 1:6.400 1:3.200 SFLDTLT p4181-KLH F3-6 C- 1:10.000 1:1.500 1:600 no titer NFLKTLS p4184-KLH F3-18 C- 1:15.000 1:5.000 1:1.500 no titer DFLRTLT p4187-KLH F3-34 C- 1:50.000 1:6.400 1:3.200 1:500 TFLSSLA p4188-KLH F3-38 C-GFLD- 1:12.000 1:5.000 1:2.000 no titer SLM p4227-KLH P12-19; C- 1:6.400 1:6.400 no titer no titer SANPRDFLETLF p4228-KLH P12-21; C-RM- 1:20.000 1:2.000 1:1.600 no titer FPESFLDTLW p4298-KLH Fr12/3/84ex- 1:25.000 1:3.200 1:1.600 no titer t2; C-FG- FPAHVSIDWLQSL S

3.1.2. Phage Display Library Ph.D. 12

3.1.2.1. Screening with monoclonal antibody “Paula”

Out of 20 amino acid sequences derived from this screen, 3 were inhibiting in in vitro inhibition experiments:

P12-19 SANPRDFLETLF P12-21 RMFPESFLDTLW P12-37 TIYDSFLDSLAS

Not inhibiting peptides were:

P12-5/44/46/49 HQSDDKMPWWFF P12-9 KPYLLKDFLEAL P12-24/43-_(—) AMGPYDALDLFL P12-25 TWNPIESFLESL P12-28 + 42 YVWQDPSFTTFF P12-30 QYQTPLTFLEAL P12-35- RHISPATFLEAL P12-39- HTDSFLSTFYGD P12-42- YVWQDPSFTTFF P12-45- ADSTFTSFLQTL P12-50-_(—) GPVSIYADTDFL P12-51-_(—) DSNDTLTLAAFL P12-52-_(—) NGSPALSHMLFL P12-53- TDYDPMWVFFGY P12-56- IFPLDSQWQTFW P12-58- NESMPDLFYQPS P12-61- DWGDKYFSSFWN

Results of 2 typical competition ELISAs are shown in FIG. 2A and 2 b.

All 3 mimotopes were coupled to KLH and injected into wildtype mice (mice do not have CETP protein), CETP-tg mice, or rabbits, respectively, and induced immune response to the injected peptide with all adjuvants that were tested (Alum and CFA; Gerbu).

Mimotope P12-19; C-SANPRDFLETLF and P12-21; C-RMFPESFLDTLW induced an immune response to the original CETP epitope in wt mice and in rabbits.

In contrast thereto, mimotope P12-37 C-TIYDSFLDSLAS did not induce an antibody response to the original epitope.

3.2 Screening with 2 antibodies dervived from “Fusion I”: “Frida” and “James”

3.2.1. Phage Display Library Ph.D. 7

3.2.1.1. Screening with monoclonal antibodies “Frida” and “James”

Two different peptide sequences were identified in these screens, 11 of 12 clones that were sequenced had identical sequences. These peptides are not inhibiting in in vitro competition experiments.

Fr7-2-2 Fr7-2B-65 Fr7-3-7 Fr7-3-13 Fr7-3-26 Fr7-3-32 Ja7-2-22 Ja7-3-28 Ja7-3-41 Ja7-3-52 Ja7-3-56 VSAYNNV Ja7-3-89 WPLHLWQ

The results of 2 representative competition ELISAs with mAb “Frida” are shown in FIG. 3A and 3 b. The same pattern was seen with mAb “James”.

3.2.2. Phaqe Display Library Ph.D. 12

3.2.2.1. Screening with monoclonal antibody “Frida”

Fr12/2/6 TPTHYYADFSQL Fr12/2/11 LPGHLIWDSLHY Fr12/2/27 LPQTHPLHLLED Fr12/3/1 Fr12/3/19 Fr12/3/88 IPYHHLVDQLHH Fr12/3/26 Fr12/3/65 YPYHVQVDVLQN Fr12/3/68 IPSHHLQDSLQL Fr12/3/12 EYAHHTSLDLRQ Fr12/3/83 EPLHFRSDRIQA Fr12/3/55 ATPSHLIIDRAQ Fr12/3/63 APKHLYADMSQA Fr12/3/84 FKPAHVSIDWLQ Fr12/3/47 MPAHLSRDLRQS Fr12/3/80 NPKHYSIDRHQA Fr12/3/40 SPQHLTTDRAQA Fr12/3/35 TPFHFAQDSWQW

None of the 15 amino acid sequences identified in this screen were inhibiting in in vitro competition experiments. However, sequence analysis revealed rather high homology to the original protein sequence for many of the mimotopes . On the other hand, for some peptides binding of monoclonal antibody “Frida” to ELISA plates coated with mimotope-BSA could be shown (see FIGS. 4 a and 4 b).

This shows that binding of monoclonal antibody to immobilised mimotopes does not necessarily allow to predict inhibition in in vitro competition ELISA.

In vitro inhibition experiments with variations of the original sequence FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS (16 C-terminal AA of CETP protein) showed that removing more than 2 amino acids from the N-terminus or more than 1 amino acid from the C-terminus abolishes inhibition (for monoclonal antibodies “Frida” and “James”. “Paula” and “Felix” recognise a different part of the original sequence).

In addition, simultaneously removing 2 amino acids from the N-terminus and 1 amino acid from the C-terminus also results in a peptide that is not inhibiting in vitro any more.

Fr12/2/6 TPTHYYADFSQL Fr12/2/11 LPGHLIWDSLHY Fr12/2/27 LPQTHPLHLLED Fr12/3/1 IPYHHLVDQLHH Fr12/3/19 IPYHHLVDQLHH Fr12/3/88 IPYHHLVDQLHH Fr12/3/26 YPYHVQVDVLQN Fr12/3/65 YPYHVQVDVLQN Fr12/3/68 IPSHHLQDSLQL Fr12/3/12 EYAHHTSLDLRQ Fr12/3/83 EPLHFRSDRIQA Fr12/3/55 ATPSHLIIDRAQ Fr12/3/63 APKHLYADMSQA Fr12/3/84 FKPAHVSIDWLQ Fr12/3/47 MPAHLSRDLRQS Fr12/3/80 NPKHYSIDRHQA Fr12/3/40 SPQHLTTDRAQA Fr12/3/35 TPFHFAQDSWQW

Consequently, using the original CETP sequence as a template, peptide sequences obtained in this Phage Display procedure were elongated on the N-terminus and/or C-terminus to check whether in vitro inhibition is possible with longer peptides.

3.2.2.2. Mimotopes Frida Ph.D.12 and variations thereof:

Fr12/2/6 TPTHYYADFSQL Fr12/2/6 ext1 TPTHYYADFSQLLS Fr12/2/6 ext2 TPTHYYADFSQSLS Fr12/2/6 ext3 GTPTHYYADFSQLL Fr12/2/6 ext4 GTPTHYYADFSQSL Fr12/2/6 ext5 FGTPTHYYADFSQSLS Fr12/2/6 ext6 FGFPTHYYADFSQSLS Fr12/2/11 LPGHLIWDSLHY Fr12/2/11 ext1 LPGHLIWDSLHYL Fr12/2/11 ext2 LPGHLIWDSLHYLS Fr12/2/11 ext3 LPGHLIWDSLHSL Fr12/2/11 ext4 LPGHLIWDSLHSLS Fr12/2/11 ext5 GLPGHLIWDSLHYL Fr12/2/11 ext5 GLPGHLIWDSLHSL Fr12/2/11 ext6 FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS Fr12/2/11 ext7 FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS Fr12/2/27 LPQTHPLHLLED Fr12/3/1/19/88 ext1 IPYHHLVDQLHLS Fr12/3/1/19/88 ext2 IPYHHLVDQLHSLS Fr12/3/1/19/88 ext3 FGIPYHHLVDQLHHLS Fr12/3/1/19/88 ext4 FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS Fr12/3/26/65ext1 YPYHVQVDVLQNLS Fr12/3/26/65ext2 YPYHVQVDVLQSLS Fr12/3/26/65ext3 FGYPYHVQVDVLQNLS Fr12/3/26/65ext4 FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS Fr12/3/68 ext1 IPSHHLQDSLQLLS Fr12/3/68 ext2 IPSHHLQDSLQSLS Fr12/3/68 ext3 GIPSHHLQDSLQLL Fr12/3/68 ext4 FGIPSHHLQDSLQLLS Fr12/3/68 ext5 FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS Fr12/3/83 ext1 EPLHFRSDRIQALS Fr12/3/83 ext2 EPLHFRSDRIQSLS Fr12/3/83 ext3 GEPLHFRSDRIQAL Fr12/3/83 ext4 FGEPLHFRSDRIQALS Fr12/3/83 ext5 FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext1 ATPSHLIIDRAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 R->W FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 RA->WL FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS Fr12/3/63 ext1 APKHLYADMSQALS Fr12/3/63 ext2 APKHLYADMSQSLS Fr12/3/63 ext3 GAPKHLYADMSQAL Fr12/3/63 ext4 FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext1 FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2 FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/47 ext1 MPAHLSRDLRQSL Fr12/3/47 ext2 MPAHLSRDLRQSLS Fr12/3/47 ext3 GMPAHLSRDLRQSL Fr12/3/47 ext4 FGFPAHLSRDLRQSLS Fr12/3/40 ext1 SPQHLTTDRAQALS Fr12/3/40 ext2 SPQHLTTDRAQSLS Fr12/3/40 ext3 GSPQHLTTDRAQAL Fr12/3/40 ext4 FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS Fr12/3/35 ext1 TPFHFAQDSWQWLS Fr12/3/35 ext2 TPFHFAQDSWQSLS Fr12/3/35 ext3 GTPFHFAQDSWQWL Fr12/3/35 ext4 FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS

Representative examples of inhibition ELISA are shown in FIG. 5A and 5 b. The elongated peptides Fr12/3/84 ext2 and Fr12/3/55 ext3 showed a significant inhibition:

C-FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext3 C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2

Three additional peptides were also inhibiting in this assay:

C-FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS Fr12/3/26/65 ext4 C-FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext1 C-FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS Fr12/3/40 ext4

After sequence analysis comparing the original epitope and all mimotopes derived from Phage Display screens additional 2 peptides were created.

For mimotope Fr12/3/55 ext3 C-FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS (inhibiting in ELISA, see above) amino acid exchanges were tested in inhibition ELISA:

Strongly inhibiting:

C-FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/84 ext2

Slightly inhibiting:

C-FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext3

Peptides with altered sequences (inhibiting, see FIG. 6):

C-FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 W instead of R C-FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS Fr12/3/55 ext2 WL instead of RA Further preferred mimotopes have been characterised by the following example-set-up:

Exp. Nr. CETP-42 C42-1 KLH/Alum — C42-2 p4073- C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS KLH/Alum C42-3 p4073 LLV->LFV p4468- C-FGFPEHLFVDFLQSLS KLH/Alum C42-4 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VFI P4361- C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS KLH/Alum C42-5 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VHI p4469-KLH/ Alum C-FGFPAHVHIDWLQSLS C42-6 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->V?I p4470-KLH/ C-FGFPAHVPIDWLQSLS Alum C42-7 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VWI p4471-KLH/ C-FGFPAHVWIDWLQSLS Alum C42-8 Fr12/3/55 ext2 R->W LII->LFI p4472-KLH/ C-FGFPSHLFIDWAQSLS Alum C42-9 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI

VFI p4473-KLH/ C-PGFPAHVFIDWLQLIT FGF->PGF SLS->LIT Alum C42-10 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VYI P4362- C-FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS KLH/Alum Exp. Nr. CETP-45 C45-1 KLH/Alum — C45-2 p1358- neg. control peptide KLH/Alum C45-3 p4073- C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS KLH/Alum C45-4 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VFI p4474- C-FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN SLS->SLN KLH/Alum C45-5 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->FSI p4475- C-FGFPAHFSIDWLQSLS KLH/Alum C45-6 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VSF p4476- C-FGFPAHVSFDWLQSLS KLH/Alum C45-7 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VFI p4477- C-FGFPEHVFIDWLQSLS PAH->PEH KLH/Alum C45-8 Fr12/3/1/19/88 ext4 p4284- C-FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS KLH/Alum C45-9 Fr12/3/84 ext1 VSI->VFI plus G p4479- C-GFKPAHVFIDWLQSLS on N-terminus KLH/Alum C45-10 Fr12/3/84 ext2 VSI->VFI plus D p4480- C-DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS on N-terminus; = 4361 plus D KLH/Alum C45-11 Fr12/3/40 ext4 RA->WL LTT->LFT p4481- C-FGFPQHLFTDWLQSLS = p4369 with exchange T

F KLH/Alum C45-12 Fr12/3/55 ext2 RA->WL (see p4325- C-FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS C-31 and C-33; sera inhibiting KLH/Alum activity) C45-13 Fr12/3/84 ext2 FGF->FYF (see p4343- C-FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS C-33: recogn. protein/not in- KLH/Alum hibiting activity) C45-14 rabbit sequence p4125- C-FGFPKHLLVDFLQSLS KLH/Alum

3.2.2.3. In vivo testing of mimotopes

Female Balb/c mice, five mice per group, were subcutaneously immunized with 30 μg peptide coupled to KLH. Control groups were administered KLH or C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS. As adjuvant alum was used. The peptides administered were all able to bind to “Frida” and to induce an immune response for CETP, although some of these peptides did not inhibit the binding of CETP to “Frida” in vitro (in an in vitro inhibition assay). The in vitro ELISA assay to determine the antibody titer was performed with pooled sera after two vaccinations in a two week interval (S2; see FIGS. 7 a to 7 d). The wells of the ELISA plate were coated with KLH (positive control), mimotope-BSA conjugate, C-FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS and a irrelevant peptide-BSA conjugate (negative control). The detection was performed with anti-mouse IgG.

3.2.3. Phage Display Library Ph.D. 7C7

3.2.3.1. Screening with monoclonal antibodies “Frida” and “James”

Fr2-1 ACSFAYLYRC Fr2-5 Fr2-6 Fr2-18 Fr2-19 Fr2-28 Ja2-5 Ja2-20 Ja2-23 Ja2-24 Ja2-30 ACFMGDKWVC Fr2-7 Fr2-9 ACVLYPKAIC Fr2-11 Ja2-19 ACYMGQQFVC Fr2-16 ACLTAYLHWC Fr2-20 ACTLFPVAYC Fr2-25 ACWLFPYAHC Fr2-26 ACKSINMWLC Fr2-27 ACQTINRWLC

Due to their cyclic nature of these mimotope-peptides their synthesis is more complicated than the synthesis of linear peptides. Seven out of 9 cyclic sequences were chosen for in vitro analysis in inhibition ELISA (see FIGS. 8 a and 8 b). None of these sequences inhibited binding of the monoclonal antibody that was used for Phage Display Screening to the original CETP epitope. In addition, when these peptides were coupled to BSA and coated onto ELISA plate they were not detected by the monoclonal antibody (see FIG. 9). This was in contrast to data with mimotopes derived from the Ph.D.7 or Ph.D.12 libraries, where the monoclonal antibodies bound to most of the identified mimotopes when these peptides were coupled to BSA and coated onto ELISA plates.

Example 3 CETP activity assay

The CETP activity assay was performed with assays commercially available (e.g. ROAR CETP Activity Assay) and described, for instance, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,235, U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,683 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,355. The assay is performed according to the manufacturers' recommendations. 

1. Use of A method for treating at least one of atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis risk diseases and atherosclerosis sequelae, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a medicament comprising a compound wherein the compound comprises an amino acid sequence (Z₁)_(n)X₁X₂X₃X₄(Z₂)_(m),

wherein Z₁ is an amino acid residue other than C, X₁ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of D, A, R, E, S, N, T and G, X₂ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of F, A, W, R, S, L, Q, V and M, X₃ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of L, A, S, W, E, R, I and H, X₄ is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Q, A, H, D, K, R, S and E, Z₂ is an amino acid residue other than C, n is an integer between 0 and 10, m is an integer between 0 and 3, wherein the compound does not comprise, a 4- to 16-mer polypeptide fragment of the cholesterol ester transport protein (CETP) or a CETP-epitope, said compound having a binding capacity to an antibody which is specific for the natural CETP glycoprotein, or the compound comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SYHATFL, TMAFPLN, HYHGAFL, EHHDIFL, TGLSVFL, WMPSLFY, SMPWWFF, TMPLLFW, DTWPGLE, SMPPIFY, MPLWWWD, SMPNLFY, RMPPIFY, NPFEVFL, TLPNWFW, SMPLTFY, SPHPHFL, NFMSIGL, SQFLASL, WSWPGLN, IAWPGLD, SKFMDTL, SMPMVFY, YEWVGLM, KGFLDHL, HQSDDKMPWWFF, YVWQDPSFTTFF, YVWQDPSFTTFF, LPQTHPLHLLED, GPVSIYADTDFL, DSNDTLTLAAFL, NGSPALSHMLFL, TDYDPMWVFFGY, IFPLDSQWQTFW, NESMPDLFYQPS, DWGDKYFSSFWN, VSAYNNV and WPLHLWQ.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is a polypeptide comprising 5 to 16 amino acid residues.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein n is 7, 8 or 9, Z₁ is an amino acid residue other than C or selected from the group consisting of F, G, A, W, Y, S, G, D, L, E, K, T, P, I, V and M, preferably from the group consisting of F, G, A, P, Y, T, S, G, K and D, and Z₂ is selected from the group consisting of S, L, A, W, N, T, I, Y and H.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein X₁ is selected from the group consisting of D, A, R, E and L, X₂ is selected from the group consisting of F, A, W, Q and R, X₃ is selected from the group consisting of L, A and S, and X₄ is selected from the group consisting of Q, A and H.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein X₁ is D, X₂ is selected from the group consisting of F, Q and W, X₃ is L or S and X₄ is Q or H.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the compound comprises the amino acid sequence FX₈(F)_(o)PX₉HX₁₀X₁₁X₁₂DX₂X₃X₄X₅X₆X₇,

wherein X₈ is selected from the group consisting of G, A, F, Y and K, X₉ is selected from the group consisting of E, Y, A, Q, K and S, X₁₀ is selected from the group consisting of H, V, L, F and I, X₁₁ is selected from the group consisting of L, W, S, I, F and Y, X₁₂ is V, T, F or I, X₅ is S or Y, X₆ is L, A or I, X₇ is S, N or T, and o is 0 or
 1. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound comprises the amino acid sequence X₁X₂X₃X₄X₅X₆X₇, wherein X₁ is selected from the group consisting of D, S, N, T and G, X₂ is F, X₃ is L, X₄ is selected from the group consisting of Q, D, K, R, S and E, X₅ is S or T, X₆ is L and X₇ is an amino acid residue other than C.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SSLELFL, SFLDTLT, NFLKTLS, DFLRTLT, AFLDTLV, TFLSSLA, GFLDSLM, SPHPHFL, SNFLKTL, TGFLATL, SDFLRAL, SANPRDFLETLF, RMFPESFLDTLW, TIYDSFLDSLAS, KPYLLKDFLEAL, AMGPYDALDLFL, TWNPIESFLESL, QYQTPLTFLEAL, RHISPATFLEAL, HTDSFLSTFYGD, ADSTFTSFLQTL, GPVSIYADTDFL, DSNDTLTLAAFL, TPTHYYADFSQL, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, YPYHVQVDVLQN, IPSHHLQDSLQL, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, APKHLYADMSQA, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, MPAHLSRDLRQS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPTHYYADFSQLLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, GTPTHYYADFSQLL, GTPTHYYADFSQSL, FGTPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPTHYYADFSQSLS, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPGHLIWDSLHYL, LPGHLIWDSLHYLS, LPGHLIWDSLHSL, LPGHLIWDSLHSLS, GLPGHLIWDSLHYL, GLPGHLIWDSLHSL, FGLPGHLIWDSLHSLS, FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, IPYHHLVDQLHLS, IPYHHLVDQLHSLS, FGIPYHHLVDQLHHLS, FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS, YPYHVQVDVLQN, YPYHVQVDVLQNLS, YPYHVQVDVLQSLS, FGYPYHVQVDVLQNLS, FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS, IPSHHLQDSLQL, IPSHHLQDSLQLLS, IPSHHLQDSLQSLS, GIPSHHLQDSLQLL, FGIPSHHLQDSLQLLS, FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, EPLHFRSDRIQALS, EPLHFRSDRIQSLS, GEPLHFRSDRIQAL, FGEPLHFRSDRIQALS, FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS, APKHLYADMSQA, APKHLYADMSQALS, APKHLYADMSQSLS, GAPKHLYADMSQAL, FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS, MPAHLSRDLRQS, MPAHLSRDLRQSL, MPAHLSRDLRQSLS, GMPAHLSRDLRQSL, FGFPAHLSRDLRQSLS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPFHFAQDSWQWLS, TPFHFAQDSWQSLS, GTPFHFAQDSWQWL, FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS, ACSFAYLYRC, ACFMGDKWVC, ACVLYPKAIC, ACYMGQQFVC, ACLTAYLHWC, ACTLFPVAYC, ACWLFPYAHC, ACKSINMWLC, ACQTINRWLC, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FPEHLLVDFLQSL, AGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FAFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGAPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFAEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEALLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHALVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLAVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLADFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVAFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDALQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFAQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLASLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQALS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSAS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLA, FAFPAHLLVDFLQALA, AAFPAHLLADFLQALA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, SPQHLTTDRAQALS, SPQHLTTDRAQSLS, GSPQHLTTDRAQAL, FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDRLQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWLQSLS, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, ATPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWSQSLS, FATPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLA, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFFAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIRWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIEWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLNSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLHSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, PGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, WGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FSFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FDFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQLLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQWLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQNLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQTLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQYLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSIS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLT, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLY, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFPAHVSIDRAQSLS, FGFPTHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPFHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHISIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHLTTDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSLDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPAHVWIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHFSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSFDWLQSLS, FGFPEHVFIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPQHLFTDWLQSLS, FGFPKHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWSQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDFSQSLS, FGFPSHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIEWLQSLS, AAFPAHLLADAAQALA, AAFPAHAAADFLQALA, AAFAAHLLADFLQAAA, AAAPAHLLVDAAQAAA, FAFPAHVFIDWLQSLS; FGFPAHVFIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA, GFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FPAHVFIDWLQSLS, PAHVFIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVFIDWLQALA, FGFPEHLFVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHVHIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVPIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLFIDWAQSLS, PGFPAHVFIDWLQLIT, PAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQ, FGFPAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, PSHLIIDWLQ, PAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPAHVTIDWLQSLN, DFGFPAHVLIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN and FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preferably KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin).
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is formulated for intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular administration.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is formulated with an adjuvant, preferably aluminium hydroxide.
 12. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein the compound is contained in an amount of from 0.1 ng to 10 mg, preferably 10 ng to 1 mg, in particular 100 ng to 10 μg.
 13. Peptide A peptide consisting of at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SYHATFL, TMAFPLN, HYHGAFL, EHHDIFL, SSLELFL, TGLSVFL, WMPSLFY, SMPWWFF, TMPLLFW, DTWPGLE, SMPPIFY, MPLWWWD, SMPNLFY, RMPPIFY, NPFEVFL, TLPNWFW, SMPLTFY, SFLDTLT, NFLKTLS, DFLRTLT, AFLDTLV, TFLSSLA, GFLDSLM, SPHPHFL, NFMSIGL, SQFLASL, SNFLKTL, TGFLATL, WSWPGLN, IAWPGLD, SKFMDTL, SDFLRAL, SMPMVFY, YEWVGLM, KGFLDHL, SANPRDFLETLF, RMFPESFLDTLW, TIYDSFLDSLAS, HQSDDKMPWWFF, KPYLLKDFLEAL, AMGPYDALDLFL, TWNPIESFLESL, YVWQDPSFTTFF, QYQTPLTFLEAL, RHISPATFLEAL, HTDSFLSTFYGD, YVWQDPSFTTFF, ADSTFTSFLQTL, GPVSIYADTDFL, DSNDTLTLAAFL, NGSPALSHMLFL, TDYDPMWVFFGY, IFPLDSQWQTFW, NESMPDLFYQPS, DWGDKYFSSFWN, VSAYNNV, WPLHLWQ, TPTHYYADFSQL, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, YPYHVQVDVLQN, IPSHHLQDSLQL, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, APKHLYADMSQA, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, MPAHLSRDLRQS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPTHYYADFSQLLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, GTPTHYYADFSQLL, GTPTHYYADFSQSL, FGTPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPTHYYADFSQSLS, LPGHLIWDSLHY, LPGHLIWDSLHYL, LPGHLIWDSLHYLS, LPGHLIWDSLHSL, LPGHLIWDSLHSLS, GLPGHLIWDSLHYL, GLPGHLIWDSLHSL, FGLPGHLIWDSLHSLS, FGFPGHLIWDSLHSLS, LPQTHPLHLLED, IPYHHLVDQLHH, IPYHHLVDQLHLS, IPYHHLVDQLHSLS, FGIPYHHLVDQLHHLS, FGFPYHHLVDQLHSLS, YPYHVQVDVLQN, YPYHVQVDVLQNLS, YPYHVQVDVLQSLS, FGYPYHVQVDVLQNLS, FGFPYHVQVDVLQSLS, IPSHHLQDSLQL, IPSHHLQDSLQLLS, IPSHHLQDSLQSLS, GIPSHHLQDSLQLL, FGIPSHHLQDSLQLLS, FGFPSHHLQDSLQSLS, EYAHHTSLDLRQ, EPLHFRSDRIQA, EPLHFRSDRIQALS, EPLHFRSDRIQSLS, GEPLHFRSDRIQAL, FGEPLHFRSDRIQALS, FGFPLHFRSDRIQSLS, APKHLYADMSQA, APKHLYADMSQALS, APKHLYADMSQSLS, GAPKHLYADMSQAL, FGFPKHLYADMSQSLS, MPAHLSRDLRQS, MPAHLSRDLRQSL, MPAHLSRDLRQSLS, GMPAHLSRDLRQSL, FGFPAHLSRDLRQSLS, NPKHYSIDRHQA, TPFHFAQDSWQW, TPFHFAQDSWQWLS, TPFHFAQDSWQSLS, GTPFHFAQDSWQWL, FGFPFHFAQDSWQSLS, ACSFAYLYRC, ACFMGDKWVC, ACVLYPKAIC, ACYMGQQFVC, ACLTAYLHWC, ACTLFPVAYC, ACWLFPYAHC, ACKSINMWLC, ACQTINRWLC, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FPEHLLVDFLQSL, AGFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FAFPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGAPEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFAEHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHLLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEALLVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHALVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLAVDFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLADFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVAFLQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDALQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFAQSLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLASLS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQALS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSAS, FGFPEHLLVDFLQSLA, FAFPAHLLVDFLQALA, AAFPAHLLADFLQALA, SPQHLTTDRAQA, SPQHLTTDRAQALS, SPQHLTTDRAQSLS, GSPQHLTTDRAQAL, FGFPQHLTTDRAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWAQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDRLQSLS, FGFPQHLTTDWLQSLS, ATPSHLIIDRAQ, ATPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDRAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWAQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIDWSQSLS, FATPSHLIIDWLQSLS, FKPAHVSIDWLQ, FKPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLA, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFAAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFFAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIRWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIEWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLNSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLHSLS, AGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, PGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, WGFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FSFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FYFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FDFPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGAPAHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQLLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQWLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQNLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQTLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQYLS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSIS, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLT, FGFPAHVSIDWLQSLY, FAFPAHVSIDWLQALA, FGFPAHVSIDRAQSLS, FGFPTHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPFHVSIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHISIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHLTTDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSLDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVSADWLQSLS, TPTHYYADFSQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDWSQSLS, FGFPAHVSIDFSQSLS, FGFPSHIIIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLIIEWLQSLS, AAFPAHLLADAAQALA, AAFPAHAAADFLQALA, AAFAAHLLADFLQAAA, AAAPAHLLVDAAQAAA, FAFPAHVFIDWLQSLS; FGFPAHVFIDWLQALS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA, GFPAHVFIDWLQSLS, FPAHVFIDWLQSLS, PAHVFIDWLQSLS, FAFPAHVFIDWLQALA, FGFPEHLFVDFLQSLS, FGFPAHVHIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVPIDWLQSLS, FGFPSHLFIDWAQSLS, PGFPAHVFIDWLQLIT, PAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVYIDWLQ, FGFPAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPSHLIIDWLQSLS, DFGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN, PSHLIIDWLQ, PAHVFIDWLQ, DFGFPAHVTIDWLQSLN, DFGFPAHVLIDWLQSLN, FGFPAHVYIDWLQSLS, FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLN and FGFPAHVFIDWLQSLA.
 14. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising at least one peptide according to claim
 13. 15. The formulation according to claim 14, wherein the peptide is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 